City planners announced on Mar. 19 that the South Chicago Land Use Framework, a city-backed plan launched last summer, is moving forward with efforts to align zoning and land use with current community needs. The draft plan was presented at an open house at Russell Square Park and covers an area bounded by Yates Boulevard, 79th Street, Lake Michigan, the Calumet River, and South Chicago Avenue.
The initiative addresses longstanding mismatches between how properties are used in South Chicago and their official zoning designations. Many buildings house multiple households despite being zoned for single-family occupancy, while housing vacancies in the area are more than double the city average. Some residents have also expressed concerns about limited business options in the neighborhood.
Jasmine Gunn, a planner for the Far South region with the city’s Department of Planning and Development, said the framework builds on existing plans and pending investments “to make sure that the land use and future zoning align with what the community wants to see.” The plan designates several streets as mixed-use corridors and sets aside areas for urban agriculture, community gardens, open space, as well as residential rehabilitation and new housing types. Housing developments highlighted include six two-flats from the city’s Missing Middle program and a project by Claretian Associates to develop single-family modular homes.
Gunn said city planners aim to complete the plan this spring and summer before seeking approval from the Chicago Plan Commission by fall. She explained that while the framework itself would not rezone any areas directly, it would streamline future rezoning efforts led by local aldermen Greg Mitchell (7th) and Peter Chico (10th), along with city planning officials. Zoning changes would primarily affect vacant land or buildings or owners seeking major renovations or new uses for existing structures.
“Any existing homeowners that are there, or existing uses, automatically can stay there no matter if the zoning changes,” Gunn said. She added that the framework responds in part to a recently released quality of life plan developed by neighborhood stakeholders: “The vision that they had was to see renovated homes [and] different businesses, and the zoning and the land use doesn’t really match that… We want to make sure people can implement the strategies [for] development that they want to see.”
Renee Nowlin, a community organizer who attended Wednesday’s meeting, welcomed a big-picture approach but urged officials to ensure benefits reach all parts of South Chicago. “I love the vision that they have,” Nowlin said. “I’m excited that there’s a lot of talk about things coming over to the Southeast Side of Chicago.” However, she expressed skepticism about whether feedback collected through sticky notes and informal surveys will be reflected in final decisions: “We shall see… I do believe they listen … but it’s hard [to know whether feedback is acted on] until you see things actually come into fruition. Sometimes I feel like a box is being checked to reach out to the community.”
Officials said more public input will be gathered through another meeting, focus groups, pop-up tables at events before presenting it to commissioners later this year. Residents can also take an online survey through May 15.
The South Chicago Land Use Framework coincides with another effort—the Calumet Area Land Use Plan—which focuses on updating industrial land uses on Chicago’s Southeast Side.
